Hanufacture of methyl alcohol



' WAGEPURE 09E MEL 1-,

i at, as U t Application med may er, that, serial the. name, and in dreetBrlt-atu Stuns 1t, 1.

s invention relates to the manufacture of aliphatic compounds, and particularly of methyl alcohol, from mixtures of or containing carbon monoxide and hydrogen.

lit has been lmown since 1913-1914 (Brit- '1 ish' patent specification of Badische Amlin & Soda habrik No. 20%88 of 1913) that, when mixtures of carbon monoxide and hydrogen in which the carbon monoxide is largely preponder-ant, are submitted to high temperature and high pressure, hydrocarbons together with a serie of oxygenated aliphatic products are obtain d. This process however 18 not of much commercial value, as a large number of products are produced together,

a each in relatively small amounts and the refollowed by research in other cover-y and separation of these roducts is a matter of extreme dcul an even impossibility. This is ap arent g the reason wh the process was not ollowe up or develops In recent years the problem was taken up and investigated by a Mr. Patart and detailsot his work were published. This was (Porters, all

tending'to the same aim, namey to try to produce as main product methylic alcohol,

a in other quarters many conflicting details and interpretations were given about thceffect in employing the alrea y $0 the main principle being that whereas in the previous research and process of 1913-1914 an excess of carbon monoxide was used as compared with hydrogen, the new researches prescribed, quite apart from questions of tem erature and pressure, the use, as main modification, of a substantial excess of hydro en the result being, it was stated, that met yhc alcohol was essentially formed.

In connection with these furtherresearches previously proposed catalysts such as metallic'compounds, from a point of view of theiri reducible and non v reducible qualities. Thus, for instance it was stated in certain cases thatnon-reducible metals should be employed, whilst in other cases emanating from the same source it was indicated that these non-reducible metals were reducible metals. Further, it was stated in certain cases that no basic material 'must be used as being very bad, whilst in other cases the same people suggest on the same date that these basic materials are very good for the see purpose.

New, whereas the main basis of the theory of the previous researches has been that the production of methyl alcohol as exclusive or so practically exclusive roduct is due to the use of excess hydrogen, for the production of methyl alcohol as exhave now found that elusive or main product, it is not necessary to have an excess of hydrogen, and that, subject to the choice of catalyst and temperature employed, it is possible to obtain methyl alcohol as exclusive or principal product even with a reduced amount of hydrogen.

In order toperform this reaction in thetit bly to form ormaldehyde, and owing to their having at the same time a basic character, are

capable of formin methyl alcohol, probably by splitting ofl car 11 monoxide from formaldehyde, or that one em loys catalysts whereof one or some are capable of initiating the combination of the gases and another or others owin to their basic character are capable of e ectin the transformation into methyl alcohol, t e latter class of catalysts being em loyed either together in mixture with the ormer class, or in succession thereto, that is to say, the gases passing on in contact with them ,after passingin contact with the former class. In an case the catalysts employed are such as 0 not promote the formation of methane or more than traces of methane. In other words, the catalysts employed are such asi-are capable of efiecting the combination ofcarbon monoxide and hydrogen to form oxygenated organic compounds. I

It is understood that the proportion of of catalysts havin be known catalysts (other than catalysts w ich favour the formation of methane) which unite in them-- selves the dual capacity of combining the gases and of having at the same time a sufficiently basic character so as to form directly methyl alcohol or mixtures of catalysts may be used of which one or some "initiate the combination of the gases, and the other or others, being of suficiently strongly basic nature, promote the transformation of the lI11tl&l products into methyl alcohol. Or mixtures the said dual capacity with catalysts capa is of efiecting the transformation into methyl alcohol may be employed. @Or the gases may be passed successively in contact with a catalyst or catalysts capable of initiating the combination of the gases (and capable or not of efiecting the transformation into methyl alcohol) and a catalyst or catalysts of basic nature capable of efiecting the transformation into methyl alcohol.

Some examples of catalysts which may be employed for the purpose of the invention are zinc oxide, copper oxide, copper chromate, zinc chromate, zinc aluminates, potassium zincate or mixtures of two together or several together; zinc oxide and potassium acetate or potassium carbonate, zinc oxide with aluminium, copper or zinc or tin with potassium carbonate or sodium carbonate or their corresponding acetates; or even caustic alkali combined with zinc oxide or copper oxide. In all cases potassium or sodium carbonate may be present or their corresponding acetates may be used in the presence ofpotassium or sodium carbonate or other bhsic catalysts or other basic substances. These catalysts are only enumerated in order to illustrate the nature of the catalysts to be employed, without being limitative, as any other known or suitable catalysts having a similar effect to what is above indicated can be used, be it in the form of metals or their salts or mixtures of metals and their salts, especially salts of the type of chromates, vanadates, etc., preferably when a catalyst of basic nature and especially relatively strong basic nature is present.

lhe temperature, especially when zinc or zinc oixde or their derivatives alone or in mixmaaeao' to the ture with other catalysts are used, should not exceed about 350-450 C. and is preferably kept between about 200 and 300 C.

The pressure emplo ed varies according to the catalysts used an may be up to 200 atmospheres and more, but generally a pressure of about 50 to 150 atmospheres is used.

Based on the foregoin ,methodofprocedure, it is possible to; pro uce in a continuous process and practically quantitatively methyl alcohol.

- under. heat and 'ljhe reaction is preferably executed in a copper "system, implying copper-lined apparatus, orin apparatus of other suitable metals,

such as aluminium, etc., or other materials,

according to the temperatures used.

In executing the rocess for the production of methyl alcohol t e speed of passage of the gases has also an influence, as, if the gases are passed throu h at relatively 1ow.speed,'hydrocarbons and igher alcohols may be formed. What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A process for the manufacture of methyl alcohol, comprising subjecting a gaseous mixture containing hydrogen and carbon monoxide in about equi-molecular proportion to the action of heat and pressure in the pres- V ence of a catalyst consisting solely of zinc oxide. I

2. A process for the manufacture of methyl alcohol, comprising heating a ture containing hydrogen and carbon monoxide in about equi-molecular proportion under pressure at a temperature less than about 450 0. in the presence of a catalyst consisting solely of zinc ends.

3. A process for the manufacture of methyl alcohol, comprising heating a gaseous mixture containing hydrogen and carbon monoxide in about equi molecular proportion under pressure at a temperature between about 200 and 300 C. in the presence of catalyst consisting solely of zinc om de.

v 4. Aprocess for the manufacture of methyl alcohol, comprising heating a gaseous mixture containing hydrogen and carbon monoxide in about equi-molecular proportion under a pressure not exceeding 200 atmos-= pheres in the presence of a catalyst consisting solely of zinc ends. I s

5. A'p'rocess for the manufacture of methyl alcohol, comprising heating a gaseous mixture containing hydrogen and carbon menom'de in about equi-moleculari' proportion.-

under a pressure between about50 and 150,;

atmospheres in the presence oncatalyst tong;

sisting solely of zinc oxide.

process for the manufacture of methyl alcohol, comprising heating a gaseous mixpheres, in the presence of a catalyst consisting solely of zinc oxide.

t. A process for the manufacture of methyl alcohol, comprising heating a gaseous mixture containing hydrogen and carbon monoxide in about equl-molecular proportion at a. temperature between about 200 to 300 U, and undrer it pressure between about 50 andl atmospheres in the presence of et'catolyst consisting solely of zinc oxide.

1' n testimony whereof, I have hereunto sphscribeol my name.

NY DREYFUS 

